Lure Fishing for Beginners — What I Teach Every First-Timer

One of the most rewarding parts of my job as a fishing guide is introducing people to lure fishing for the first time. The biggest misconception I encounter is that it's overly complicated. In reality, most beginners improve rapidly once they understand a few core fundamentals — and that's exactly what I focus on from the moment we leave the ramp.

Lesson One: Build Confidence First

The first thing I teach every new angler is confidence in what they're doing. Many beginners constantly change lures or retrieve styles after only a few casts, assuming something isn't working. Successful lure fishing is often about persistence — understanding how fish relate to structure and water movement takes time, and constantly second-guessing your presentation interrupts that process. Stick with a technique long enough to give it a genuine chance.

Lesson Two: Slow Everything Down

The second lesson I teach on almost every charter is to slow the retrieve down. Many beginners instinctively wind their lures back too quickly. By slowing the retrieve and incorporating deliberate pauses, results improve almost immediately. Subtle lure movements that keep the bait in the strike zone for longer give fish more time to locate, track and commit. That pause before the next hop is often where the strike happens.

Lesson Three: Understand Your Lure Categories

On my charters I carry three main lure categories, and I explain the role of each to beginners early in the session. Soft plastics are the most versatile and beginner-friendly — they work across species and conditions and forgive presentation errors better than most lures. Hardbody crankbaits excel around structure like timber, rock edges and channel walls. Topwater baits create exciting visual strikes in shallow water and are often the lure that converts a first-timer into a lure fishing addict.

Lesson Four: Read the Conditions

Wind direction, water clarity and sunlight all influence how and where fish hold. I walk beginners through this on every charter — not as a lecture, but as we're moving between spots. Why are we fishing this bank and not that one? Why has the retrieve style changed? Understanding the reasoning behind decisions dramatically accelerates improvement and means clients leave with knowledge they can apply independently.

Lesson Five: Embrace the Problem-Solving

Perhaps most importantly, I encourage beginners to see lure fishing as a form of problem-solving rather than a passive activity. Every session is different. Fish move, conditions change, and adapting to what's in front of you is both the challenge and the enjoyment. The anglers I see improve fastest are the ones who stay curious and ask questions throughout the day — which I actively encourage.

The Moment That Makes It All Worthwhile

The most satisfying part of guiding beginners is the moment that first strike happens on an artificial lure. There's a particular look clients get — somewhere between surprise, disbelief and pure excitement. Once that first fish comes to the net on a lure they've worked themselves, most people are completely hooked. I've had clients travel from Sydney, Canberra and regional NSW specifically for tuition sessions, and many of them become repeat charter clients. That tells me everything.

Want to learn lure fishing with an experienced guide?

2-hour Tuition Sessions available at $125 per person (max 4). All gear supplied.

East Gippsland Sportfishing offers dedicated Fishing Tuition Sessions for beginners and those looking to improve. Half day and full day charters also available. Click here or call Chris on 0448 195 356 for more information and bookings